“We had a pretty strong connection to the school in our community just in our neighborhood.

Spending time with those families, and seeing their children and the way that they were interacting
with adults and the confidence that they had, we knew a lot of it came from the families, but we
knew that it was also coming from the school that they were attending.”

JEANPAULBALAJADIABOARDOFTRUSTEES

Erin O’Donnell ReilingIn what capacity are you supporting the school?

Currently, I am the 1st Grade community coordinator,
a parent docent to potential new families touring the
school, and a Lower School Board Member, where I
co-chair the community coordinators and co-chair the
e-commerce committee.

One of the biggest projects I am working on now with
other Board Members is creating an on-line school store
to allow parents year-round access to a broader selection of school merchandise.

Describe what your experience volunteering hasbeen like?

For the most part, it has been a wonderful experience.

Volunteering has allowed me the opportunity to meet
parents and children from across the school and more
deeply understand the trajectory of my child’s education.

As a Lower School Board member, I get to more deeply
understand the issues that affect our families. As a community coordinator, I am able to contribute to social
cohesion among the families in and outside of school.

This exposure allows me to better partner with administration, teachers and other parents in improving and
extending how our children are educated. I encourage
every parent to engage with our school in whatever fashion available to them. Our school is a fun and enriching
environment for kids and adults alike.

What is your favorite part about engaging with theschool?

Learning more about the school. Specifically, as I tour
potential new families around the school, being able
to peek in and see what is going on in the classrooms. I
really enjoy these glimpses of what is to come for my
own children.

What motivates you to engage with the school?

A strong educational program empowered by a family
community is crucial to ensuring that healthy and happy
kids grow into young adults ready to lead the world. I
hope that my efforts will contribute to both.

Being part of the community means belong- ing to a family of faculty, staff, friends, and parents who seek to offer our students the best educational opportunities in an exciting learning environment. We are fortunate to have parents who engage with the school in a wide spectrum of ways.